Where should new school be built?

SWINDON Council is to hold a public consultation over two possible sites for a new primary school to help meet growing demand in the town centre.

The council needs to provide an extra 30 reception places a year by 2014 and the same again by 2016 due to a rise in births.

The two options, which were whittled down earlier this year from a possible five, are either a new school on land once used as a council depot off County Road, or a new school on an unused section of school field at St Joseph’s Catholic College.

All residents should have been sent a consultation questionnaire in the past fortnight, and a drop-in session to answer any questions will be held at Broadgreen Community Centre on Tuesday, October 16, between 6pm and 8pm.

The consultation closes on November 9 . The council's cabinet, which will make the final decision by December.

Coun David Renard, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “It’s particularly important for parents of young children in the town centre area. They’ve got an opportunity now to say, first of all, which location they would prefer, and whether they would support or feel the demand for additional places for children from Catholic families.

Promoted stories

“We need all that information to enable us to make the right choice on location.

“There’s been a lot of suggestion there’s a demand for children from Catholic families, but of course, if St Joseph’s is the preferred location, it doesn’t mean that non-Catholic children can’t go there.

“I would welcome feedback from families, whether they were from a Catholic background, or another faith, or no faith.”

Coun Renard said there are other factors people had to consider, such as closeness to households and safe access. He said the County Road site would need highways works and would therefore cost more.

In July, cabinet ruled out three other options, including controversial proposals to build new schools on the site of the Broadgreen Centre, in Salisbury Street, or on the site of the nursery beside the Civic Offices, in Euclid Street.

Coun Stan Pajak (Lib Dem, Eastcott) said: “I think, without a doubt, the preferred option is St Joseph’s. It ticks all the right boxes.

Share article

“It would be much quicker to create, cost less and I think fits in with most people who would go to it who would mostly be Catholic and would appreciate a Catholic school.

And there was me thinking the greatest demand is in North Swindon (based on the figures released by the council on school places). Maybe I missed the memo on the new school to deal with demand in the North.

And there was me thinking the greatest demand is in North Swindon (based on the figures released by the council on school places).
Maybe I missed the memo on the new school to deal with demand in the North.LordAshOfTheBrake

And there was me thinking the greatest demand is in North Swindon (based on the figures released by the council on school places). Maybe I missed the memo on the new school to deal with demand in the North.

Score: 0

TheBlackHand says...2:38pm Tue 9 Oct 12

Build it where they want they usually do

Build it where they want they usually doTheBlackHand

Build it where they want they usually do

Score: 0

twasadawf says...3:14pm Tue 9 Oct 12

put a couple of mobile classrooms on the Drove school site they have got the space and facility's already there, just saved sbc a fortune

put a couple of mobile classrooms on the Drove school site they have got the space and facility's already there, just saved sbc a fortunetwasadawf

put a couple of mobile classrooms on the Drove school site they have got the space and facility's already there, just saved sbc a fortune

Score: 0

umpcah says...4:41pm Tue 9 Oct 12

TheBlackHand wrote…

Build it where they want they usually do

Agreed , but this way the public vote can be blamed for unsuitable siting ! Smart move by The Council !

[quote][p][bold]TheBlackHand[/bold] wrote:
Build it where they want they usually do[/p][/quote]Agreed , but this way the public vote can be blamed for unsuitable siting ! Smart move by The Council !umpcah

TheBlackHand wrote…

Build it where they want they usually do

Agreed , but this way the public vote can be blamed for unsuitable siting ! Smart move by The Council !

Score: 0

Oldtownmum says...6:51pm Tue 9 Oct 12

Wait for the Croft NIMBYs to start moaning again.

Wait for the Croft NIMBYs to start moaning again.Oldtownmum

Wait for the Croft NIMBYs to start moaning again.

Score: 0

Fubar2150 says...8:57pm Tue 9 Oct 12

The town center does make sense as it's far more densely populated than other outer lying areas, and has a multitude of single flat, bed sits and shared homes occupied by young familys. Hence more need for the school spaces.

The town center does make sense as it's far more densely populated than other outer lying areas, and has a multitude of single flat, bed sits and shared homes occupied by young familys. Hence more need for the school spaces.Fubar2150

The town center does make sense as it's far more densely populated than other outer lying areas, and has a multitude of single flat, bed sits and shared homes occupied by young familys. Hence more need for the school spaces.

Score: 0

RichardR1 says...8:43am Wed 10 Oct 12

Is it such an awful chore for children to travel 3 miles, or is it more about parents being to lazy these days.

Is it such an awful chore for children to travel 3 miles, or is it more about parents being to lazy these days.RichardR1

Is it such an awful chore for children to travel 3 miles, or is it more about parents being to lazy these days.

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standardards Organisations's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a compaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here